Employee Appreciation Spotlight: Recognising our Carers

Caregivers surround us. Healthcare professionals and social workers are easy to identify. Less so carers who are family members, colleagues, and volunteers. All, however, are united in the task of providing emotional, spiritual, and physical care to family, friends, and workmates. This support is more than just a job. It is a vocation, a word that comes from the Latin, vocare, meaning ‘to call’. They feel drawn to undertake this task of caring. It is fitting that on one day every year we celebrate their work.

Why show appreciation to caregivers?

Showing appreciation is not just about being ‘kind’. Appreciation is essential to ensure caregivers feel valued, supported, and cared for themselves. Individuals, families, the wider communities, all benefit greatly from their work. Appreciating their work reinforces its value. When recognition is public – and not just private, it boosts caregivers and highlights their importance within the community. When their efforts are acknowledged they feel respected. When they feel valued, their work is publicly and emotionally facilitated.

Carers are the backbone of any professional caring organisation. They perform their core duties with dedication, and encourage empathy, patience, and understanding in those around them. For many, their work is more than just a job; it’s a calling that demands emotional strength, sometimes at the expense of their own well-being. Recognising their efforts is a necessary step towards fostering a supportive work culture, where every individual feels valued.

“First we lost my dad to dementia and then my mum. As babies, they cared for us. They wiped our backsides, dressed us, and fed us.  Now it was out turn to be their carers. Together, we took them to the dentist, the doctor and consultant appointments. We ensured they were warm, well-fed, and looked after. But we couldn’t do everything; we couldn’t be there all the time. Eventually, my brother and I led a team of carers who supported them 24/7. We saw firsthand their work and dedication. It was of consolation to know that when we were at work, someone was calling in. And when help from a female carer was more appropriate for my mum’s needs, it was on tap.”

Dr Paul Gadie, Managing Director, Gift Innovations

The challenges

However, despite their dedication, sometimes caregivers can go unrecognised and unsupported. This leads to stress, emotional exhaustion, and for professional carers, a high staff turnover. Why is this?

There are a number of factors:

• Caregivers often prioritise others before themselves. Too easily, this can lead to work-related stress and exhaustion. Encouraging and facilitating self-care is crucial to their long-term wellbeing and effectiveness.

• Caregiving is often undervalued financially. Many caregivers work long hours for modest pay. Some may work more than one job to make ends meet.

• Many caregivers juggle multiple responsibilities at work and also at home. Some may also be caring for elderly or infirmed family members.

• For professional carers, a demanding patient can sap your energy. You take a deep breath and you are in and out within your allotted time. This creates a tension – even a dissonance, between professionalism and the call to deeper care-giving.

• Within professional caring companies there is a large turnover of carers due to a combination of all of the above. Organisations battle hard to find the best, most suitable staff for their range of patients, but they are drawing from the same, limited pool of employees.

The positive ripple effect of recognition

When carers feel genuinely appreciated, the benefits extend far beyond individual satisfaction. A motivated carer is happier, more dynamic, and with a stronger commitment to their job. Moreover, a culture of recognition, helps to reduce turnover, attract quality talent, and create a workplace where everyone feels empowered to contribute.

In an era where workplace stress is prevalent, and the demands on employees are constantly evolving, celebrating those who care is more important than ever. Employee Appreciation Day is not just a once-a-year event. It is a reminder of the ongoing commitment to foster an environment where every carer, be they employee or family member, is celebrated and supported.

Ideas for recognising carers

At Gift Innovations, we work with professional care companies to recognise and celebrate their employees. Attracting and retaining talented skilled carers is a big challenge for these organisations – that’s why it is so important for them to foster a culture of appreciation with recognition initiatives.

When new carers join a care company, they are made to feel welcomed and valued right from the start. One way to do this is by providing high-quality, branded promotional products. A simple but thoughtful gift, such as a Camelbak water bottle branded with your company logo is a practical gift that carers can use on the job, while also reinforcing their sense of belonging within the organisation.

Long Service Awards help recognise the commitment and dedication of employees who have contributed to the organisation’s success. These awards are not only a way to show gratitude but also to encourage other carers to remain with the organisation long-term. Employee of the month awards are also popular initiatives for recognising employees who have gone above and beyond. Why not offer your carers a choice of gifts on a company branded rewards portal?

Employee Appreciation Day offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the collective effort that keep families and organisations running. It’s a day to celebrate achievements and to say ‘Thank You’ to those who make a difference. For carers, this day becomes a reminder to us all to express genuine gratitude for their selfless work.

In Conclusion

Caregivers play an indispensable role in society, yet their efforts are often undervalued or go unnoticed. Caring for the carers begins by recognising and valuing their crucial work. Whether through simple gestures of personal gratitude, or more public acts of appreciation, each makes a difference to their lives. In making this commitment to them, we reminds ourselves how we should behave towards one another.

About the Author: Dr. Paul Gadie is the Managing Director of Gift Innovations with wide experience in the corporate gifting industry. He holds various degrees including a doctorate in Theology, which focuses on leadership. He has worked in academia, researching, and lecturing in Theology & Religious Studies and managing academic partnerships across the UK, Europe, and Africa. He is also a published author; in his research, he encourages the development of leaders with a vision to work with and persuade others, rather than to control and command.